In Fort Lauderdale, re-elect Trantalis in District 2

Dean Trantalis often finds himself on the losing end of 4-1 votes on the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, but he doesn't lose hope. He considers himself the "conscience of the commission," and wants to make sure important questions get asked.

Though others may not agree with him, Trantalis often makes important points, and we encourage fellow commissioners to listen harder, more often.

And in the city's March 10 election, we encourage District 2 residents to return Trantalis to the commission. He's worked hard to address their concerns and deserves another term.

When the new homeless ordinance put the city in a negative spotlight, for example, Trantalis, like this editorial board, called for a needed time-out in enforcement until alternative feeding sites were made clear. And like us, he's called for a second look at the beach aquatic center, where legitimate questions have been raised about its design, finances and lone construction bid.

Trantalis also was the lone vote against a site-plan development permit for the Grand Birch complex, a 22-unit project proposed for a vacant 0.6 acre lot of North Birch Road along the Intracoastal Waterway that nearby residents said wasn't compatible with the area. Likewise, he's been an advocate for getting more seats for neighborhood children at the nearby Virginia Shuman Young Elementary School. He's also been a leader in the push for a dog park at Holiday Park, and a strong voice for the growing LGBT community.

Trantalis, 61, knows his east Fort Lauderdale district well, having lived in the community for 30 years. He knows crime and safety are big concerns. "We must remain vigilant about crime," he said. "If we don't, it will get out of hand. Crime is a cancer that can hurt community growth."

Trantalis also wants to see more private sector investment in the Sistrunk corridor, both from the African-American community and others. And he rightly advocates for a tighter rein on CRA tax dollars there, given that one of the funded projects is now in bankruptcy. "We can't just write a blank check," he said.

The rap on Trantalis is that he sometimes raises issues without knowing all the details or having thought things through. Like his commission predecessor, Charlotte Rodstrom, he often finds himself the odd person out. But a lot of the city's biggest challenges lie in his district, and his point of view deserves consideration.

"I choose to take a leadership role on issues that concern me, that are close to me, and I am not afraid to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves," said the openly gay Trantalis.

Trantalis is opposed by David Tabb, 32, a small business owner who is passionate about the city, but lacks a good grounding in the challenges it faces.